Lewis Hamilton Expresses Concerns Over Mercedes' Top Speed at Italian GP

Lewis Hamilton has raised concerns about Mercedes' top speed advantage over Ferrari after the practice sessions for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

During the first practice, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc led a 1-2 finish, but in the second session, George Russell secured the top spot for Mercedes, with Hamilton finishing fifth, trailing by 0.457 seconds. Hamilton noted that he lost significant time to Russell in straight-line speed, which he identified as a critical area for improvement.

Hamilton acknowledged the recent engine upgrade from Ferrari, which is expected to enhance performance, but he expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind the speed deficit. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur supported the upgrade, suggesting that factors beyond engine power, such as drag and car weight, also contribute to the performance gap.